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Hamlet Details

1948 Certificate U Certificate U
  • 70
  • from 1778 members

In the opening scene of Hamlet, Laurence Olivier describes the play in a voice-over as "the tragedy of a man who couldn't make up his mind". But Olivier's screen adaptation is considerably more thoughtful and complex than this thesis would suggest. The contradictions and ambiguities of the title character, who prowls cavernous .. Read more

Starring Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Eileen Herlie, Basil Sydney
Director Laurence Olivier
Genres Drama

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Hamlet

In the opening scene of Hamlet, Laurence Olivier describes the play in a voice-over as "the tragedy of a man who couldn't make up his mind". But Olivier's screen adaptation is considerably more thoughtful and complex than this thesis would suggest. The contradictions and ambiguities of the title character, who prowls cavernous sets filled with vast, ancient corridors and winding staircases, emerge as if from a dream. The plethora of tracking shots--precise enough to impress Stanley Kubrick--encircle Olivier and his tightly constructed geometry of demise. Drawing on his experience playing the Prince on stage at Elsinore in 1937, the legendary thesp provides the film with the patina of greatness and shows how the constitution of the formerly cheerful Prince weakens increasingly under the burden of his own thoughts and inability to accept his mother's o'er-hasty marriage to uncle Claudius (Basil Sydney). Indeed, if emotions could possess ghosts, Olivier's Hamlet shows how they would manifest themselves. There is even a dollop of Freud, suggesting that Queen Gertrude (Eileen Herlie) has perhaps loved her offspring too closely--thus providing the fuel for Hamlet's actions. As Ophelia, Jeans Simmons captures the character's early spirit better than her gradual disintegration (Helena Bonham Carter fares better in Franco Zeffirelli's fine 1990 remake). Purists may bemoan the loss of Fortinbras, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, but these choices allow Olivier to focus more squarely on Hamlet's plight. His monologues, many held in secret enclaves, glow with the dramatic markedness of a Dostoevski novel, with all of the master's irony, allusions and witticisms in place. The winner of four Oscars (Best Picture, Actor, Art Direction, and Costumes), this is a Hamlet for the ages. The rest is silence. --Kevin Mulhall

Starring Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Eileen Herlie, Basil Sydney, Norman Wooland, John Laurie, Esmond Knight, Anthony Quayle, Harcourt Williams, Patrick Troughton, Tony Tarver, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Stanley Holloway, Russell Thorndike
Director Laurence Olivier
Studio 2 ENTERTAIN VIDEO
Run time DVD: 2 hrs 35 mins
Blu-ray: 2 hrs 33 mins
LOVEFiLM Instant: 2 hrs 26 mins
Certificate Certificate U DVD
Certificate U LOVEFiLM Instant
Collections Best Picture Oscar Winners
Genres Drama
Language DVD: English
Blu-ray: English
LOVEFiLM Instant: English
Released Production year: 1948

On LOVEFiLM Instant:
LOVEFiLM Instant: 22 May 2009

To Rent:
DVD: 14 Apr 2003
Blu-ray: 19 Oct 2009
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    • Hamlet - Blu-ray

    • Hamlet - Blu-ray
      Before Kenneth Branagh, before Mel Gibson, Laurence Olivier gave the definitive portrayal of 'the man who could not make up his mind'. In 15th-century Denmark, young Prince Hamlet is racked by torment and indecision after seeing a vision of his deceased father. The late king's ghost informs his son ...
    • Hamlet

    • Hamlet
      In the opening scene of Hamlet, Laurence Olivier describes the play in a voice-over as "the tragedy of a man who couldn't make up his mind". But Olivier's screen adaptation is considerably more thoughtful and complex than this thesis would suggest. The contradictions and ambiguities of the ...

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